Game apparatus



R. E. ASHLEY 'GAME APPARATUS sept. 24, 1935,

Filed Nov. i, l1934 Illlltllll/I/l llllllllllllllllllz111111111 Patented l Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to games and amusement devices, and more particularly aims to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus, in compactly packageable form, in the use of which apparatus 5 a player moves an object piece or ball aerially between two positions, by blowing or pumng it.

In the drawing illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the means of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the game appal ratus as assembled and packaged for distribution or sale and illustrating its compact stored condition;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section substantially centrally through Fig. l;

15 Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus as in actual play of the game; and

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate two modications in which the apparatus is disposed as a self-forming package or unit.

20 Referring rst to Fig. 3, the apparatus comprises a pair of cup-like elements or cups 5, which may be duplicates. Each cup is adapted to serve alternately as a holder and as a receiver for an object piece or ball B. The ball 6 may be of any 25 suitable light-weight material and may be hollow or otherwise, depending on the material used, but in any case the construction, material and size of the object or ball are such that the latter may readily be lifted and projected in the desired 30 direction by a current of air blown or puffed from a players mouth. In one satisfactory form, asv

`illustrated, the object ball 6 is hollow, being composed oi Celluloid or the like and being generally similar in size and construction to balls here- 35 tofore used in the game of table tennis, or as known in connection with the trade-mark Ping Pong.

The inside, holding or receiving portions 1 of the cups and the ball 6 are so relatively proportioned as to size that the ball may be received in and will rest freely in each cup, without binding. That is, the inside width of each cup preferably is somewhat greater than the diameter of the ball, and the cups taper downwardly but 45 little if at all, aording opportunity for a puff of air to passv downabout the ball held in either cup, and to. become effective to lift and project-it. The inside depth of the cups- 5 may be varied, but preferably is such as to receive 50 at least one half portion of the object ball. The diculty of the play and hence the degree of skill required are to some extent dependent upon the depth of the cups, and it will be noted that in the instance illustrated substantially the entire 55 ball is receivable inside each cup.

The cups conveniently may be formed with bases 8, 8 on which they may be set erect on a. flat surface and also affording means by which they may be held by a player during the play of the game. In the exemplary form as illustrated 5 these playing cups, holders or receivers 5 are generally similar in construction and appearance to egg cups of the type used for serving eggs in the shell. The cups may be of any suitable material such as wood or some composition such as Cellul0 loid or the like, but preferably are nonbreakable and relatively light in weight.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus is there illustrated in its packaged condition, as for sale upon the counters of department stores, chainstores, and other suitable points of commercial distribution, or for shipment by mail or otherwise. In this instance the cups 5 are constructed and arranged for positioning in telescoped relation, the base of one within the ball-holding or pocket portion of the other. The ball 6 is placed in the cup which is otherwise unoccupied. The three elements so arranged are deposited in a container 9 of any suitable material, such as cardboard or the like, and which is proportioned and designed to receive the parts compactly, and with a minimum of waste space. Thus the entire packaged apparatus may conveniently be carried about in a users pocket. In the illustrated example the container is closed at its top or one side by a transparent closure l0 of Cellophane or like transparent sheet material, whereby the packaged implements of the game are attractively visible. Within the scope of my invention, however, the three elements of the game apparatus may be compactly grouped or assembled in any desired manner within a container or other packaging means forming the whole into a unitarily related and packaged apparatus for commercial distribution and sale.

In the use of the apparatus for amusement or in the play of a game, the two cups are held in close or contacting alinement and close to the players mouth, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3. At the start, the ball is contained in the cup which is then nearer to the playersl mouth M, as indicated in the right-hand cup of Fig. 3. By blowing or puing across and slightly down into the first or inner cup, the ball is made to rise and at the same time is impelled slightly forwardly, sufficiently to pass over the adjoining walls between the two cups and to drop into the second 0r outer cup, following a trajectory somewhat as .indicated by the curving dash une on Fig. 3. It

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will be found that some skill is requisite to make the ball perform in the objective manner, but with some practice the desired result is readily attained, either by using a light steady blowing action, or by a quick pufling action.

The game may be played in various Ways, and any number of persons may take part. In one manner of play, each person is afforded a given number of tries, and the one completing the largest number of successful tries within the allotted number is the winner. Or the game may be played by allowing each person a fixed time limit, for example, one minute, that player winning who is successful in transferring the ball from one cup to the other the greatest number of times within the time afforded. It will be understood that, in any form of the play, when the ball has been puffed and aerially directed from the inner to the outer cup, the player then reverses the position of the cups and repeats the action. Each cup in turn serves as a holder or positioning member and then as the receiver member. Other ways of using the apparatus in play and for amusement will be apparent. For example, the play may have as its object to determine which player can attain the highest number of successful tries, successively and without an interrupting miss.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modied form of the apparatus, in which it is self-contained, that is, the construction and arrangement are such that the playing members themselves are adapted for disposal as an assembled unit or package, for distribution or storage. In this instance the cups 5a, 5EL each have a rim or terminal band II, II of sufficient thickness for the formation thereon of interengageable threaded portions or flanges I2, I2. Thus the two cups may be placed together in opposed mating relation, rim to rim, and may be retained in that position merely by screwing together their respective threaded portions I2, I2. The intersecured cups thus provide a chamber within which the ball Se may be stored. It will be noted that the internal dimensions of the cups are not disturbed throughout the main extent of the cups, which remain substantial duplicates for all practical purposes and so far as the play of the game is concerned. This self-packaging form of the apparatus is particularly convenient for carrying about in a players pocket.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated another embodiment of the commercial apparatus in accordance with my invention and wherein the parts are again to a large extent self-contained or self-packaging. In this instance the two cups 5b, 5b may be set one within the other and the ball 6b may be placed in the otherwise empty cup, similarly as in Figs. 1 and 2. For retaining the parts in this position, for distribution or retention while not in use, I provide a simple and easily manipulated securing or locking means. As illustrated, said means comprises a covering piece I3, which may be of any suitable formation and size sumcient to span the end of the adjacent and ball-containing cup and to hold the ball within the latter. As illustrated, it is a circular and slightly arched piece adapted to seat on the rim of either cup. Integral with or secured to the covering piece I3 is a yoke-like retaining means comprising the spring legs I4, I4 conforming in shape to the outer walls of the telescoped cup members and each having a projection, lug or pin I5, I5 at its outer or free end, projecting inwardly in opposition. The b'ase portions 8b, Sb of either cup and herein both cups are provided with receiving formations or recesses I6, I6 into which the projections I5 are readilyr sprung or snapped, thereby to hold the covering piece I3 in position and the three playing members in unitary assembled or packaged relation substantially as illustrated. 5

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated and described herein, its scope being set forth in the following claims:

I claim, 10

l. Game apparatus adapted for commercial distribution comprising, in combination, a plurality of playing cups, and an object ball, said cups being of a shape and size to receive and loosely confine the ball, and said ball having a size loosely conforming it to the interior of the cups and being of such light weight that it may be transferred between conned position in one cup and similar position in another cup under the lifting and propelling action of a players breath.

2. A unitary game apparatus comprising', in combination, a pair of cup-like members each including an upper open-top cup portion and a base portion on which it may rest in upright position and by which it may be held by a player, and an object ball, the ball-receiving cup portions of said members being of a size and depth to receive and loosely confine the object ball, and said ball being of such lightness in weight and being so adapted to seat in either of the cup-like members that it may be aerially transferred from seated position in one member to similar po-sition in the other member, by a blowing or puiiing action of a players breath, said cup-like members and object ball constructed and arranged for packaged distribution and sale as a commercial unit.

3. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, two cups and a ball of a weight adapting it to be raised and projected by a blowing or puing action of the breath of a player, said ball and cups proportioned and arranged for the loose but positioned reception of the ball within either cup, with the then upper portion of the ball substantially in the plane of the cup rim, whereby the ball may be so raised and projected from one to the other of the cups interchangeably, and said cups and ball being compactly packageable for commercial distribution and sale.

4. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of playing cups adapted to be positioned in alinement opposite a players mouth, and an aerially movable ball of a diameter approximatew the depth and the upper width of the cups and being receivable in either cup selectively, and aerially transferable from one cup to the other by a blowing or puiling action by the players breath, said cups and ball constructed and arranged for compact unitary packaging for commercial distribution and sale.

5. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of playing cups adapted to be positioned in alinement opposite a players mouth, said cups being of so-called non-breakable material and being shaped and proportioned for telescoping one within the other, and a lightweight hollow ball of cellulosic material receivable in either cup, for aerial lifting and transfer to the other cup by being blown or puffed by the breath of a player, said cups and ball being compactly packageable in said telescoped position of the cups and with the ball positioned in the otherwise empty cup.

6. A packaged game apparatus comprising, in combination, a container, a pair of duplicate cups, one telescoped within the other and positioned in the container, a ball movable aerially by the blown o1' puied breath of a player, said ball positioned within the inner cup of the telescoped pair in the container, and closure means for the container, the whole forming a compact package for commercial distribution and sale.

7. A game apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of cup members and a. ball receivable in either cup member and adapted to be puffed or blown by the breath of a player from one cup member to the other, said cup members constructed and arranged for opposed mated positioning rim to rim to form a storage chamber for enclosing the ball, and means releasably retaining them in said position, the whole constituting a unitary package for commercial distribution and for transportation or retention when not in use.

8. A game apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of cup members and a ball receivable in either cup member and adapted to be puied or blown from one cup member to the other-by the breath of a player, said cup members constructed and arranged for opposed mated positioning rim to rim to form a storage chamber for enclosing the ball, and interengageable threaded portions adjacent the rim of each cup member to retain them in ball-enclosing position.

9. A game apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of playing cups adapted to telescope one within the other, a ball receivable in either cup and adapted to be pu'ed or blown from one to the other by the breath of the player, a covering piece arranged to seat at the open end of either cup, a yoke-like retaining member for said piece, having opposed projections at the outer ends of its legs, and formations in the base of either or both cups for releasable reception of said projections whereby the cover piece may be applied over the open end of one cup containing the ball, the other cup being telescoped over the 20 base of the rst cup, and the whole retained in said packed relation as a unit.

RAYMOND E. ASHLEY. 

